XN000022-1984-06-17 — Page 2

SUNDAY, JUNE 17, 1994

HOUSING AUTHORITY TO CONSIDER PUBLIC OPINION

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THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND ITS COMMITTEES WILL CONSIDER FROM NEXT MONTH PUBLIC OPINION EXPRESSED ON THE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF PUBLIC HOUSING ALLOCATION POLICIES SET OUT IN ITS CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT.

+ AT PRESENT THE AUTHORITY IS SEEKING MORE PUBLIC VIEWS AS THE PERIOD FOR CONSULTATION HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO JUNE 30,+ SAID AN AUTHORITY SPOKESMAN TODAY.

IN THE LIGHT OF THE COMMENTS RECEIVED, HE SAID THE AUTHORITY AND COMMITTEES WOULD THEN DECIDE ON WHETHER ANY RECOMMENDATIONS ON CHANGES OF POLICY SHOULD BE PUT TO THE GOVERNMENT.

+SHOULD ANY CHANGES OF POLICY BE DECIDED UPON, DETAILS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PRINCIPLES WILL BE CONSIDERED BY THE AUTHORITY.

+SINCE THE CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT WAS WIDELY PUBLISHED FOR PUBLIC DISCUSSION ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO, RESPONSE HAS BEEN ENTHUSIASTIC FROM DISTRICT BOARDS, MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES AND OTHER SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY.+

THE SPOKESMAN REITERATED THAT THE DOCUMENT WAS A DISCUSSION PAPER IN THE TRUEST SENSE OF THE WORD, AND THAT THE OPTIONS IT CONTAINED WERE NOT AGREED POLICIES.

+NO DECISIONS HAVE BEEN TAKEN,

+ ALTHOUGH THE CONSULTATIVE APPROACH ADOPTED BY THE AUTHORITY IS NEW, THE PUBLIC APPEAR TO LIKE IT, AND WE WELCOME MORE VIENS.+

THE CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT COVERS THE FOLLOWING ISSUES: PUBLIC HOUSING FOR SMALL HOUSEHOLDS, LONG-TERM REHOUSING OF SQUATTERS AND TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA RESIDENTS, WELL-OFF PUBLIC HOUSING TEN ANTS, PROMOTION OF HOME OWNERSHIP AND ADDITION OF MARRIED CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO PUBLIC HOUSING TENANCIES.

HOS ENVIRONMENT AIDS CHILD DEVELOPMENT

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THE SPACIOUS ENVIRONMENT AND PLENTIFUL PLAY FACILITIES ON HOME OWNERSHIP ESTATES CAN BE AN IMPORTANT AID TO THE HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT OF GROWING CHILDREN, ACCORDING TO A CONSULTING PSYCHOLOGIST.

MRS GLORIA CHAN, COUNSELLING PSYCHOLOGIST, HONG KONG UNIVERSITY COUNSELLOR, SAID THAT THE ENVIRONMENT WAS A MAJOR CONCERN FOR PARENTS, ESPECIALLY IN CROWDED HONG KONG.

/MANY PARENTS